VW Microbus to go electric at CES tech show

The Bulli, first seen in 2011, could provide inspiration for completely new concept

Classic Camper van will return with all-electric derivative to showcase VW’s vision for autonomous tech, safety as well as connectivity

The Volkswagen Microbus will make another return with an electric concept at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month, prior to an official announcement confirming the iconic van’s return to the German car maker’s line-up.

Described as a close preview to a planned production variation of the Microbus to be produced at Volkswagen’s Puebla factory in Mexico coming from 2017, the concept is usually set to showcase a newly developed electric drive system among some other contemporary connectivity technologies.

The zero local emission driveline, which relies on the Volkswagen Group’s latest lithium-ion battery technology as used by the Audi R8 E-Tron as well as Audi Q6 E-Tron Quattro concept, is usually claimed to provide a range of between 400 as well as 500km (250-310 miles) depending on the driving conditions.

The German supplier received a, which is usually seeking to rebuild its reputation inside the wake of the emissions scandal, will show off the vehicle during a keynote speech by Herbert Diess, head of passenger cars for Volkswagen, on the eve of CES.

In his address Diess will lay out Volkswagen’s vision for electric mobility as well as sustainability.

The all-electric Microbuss is usually planned to be offered alongside more conventional turbocharged four-cylinder petrol as well as diesel powerplants on the production Microbus, which senior Wolfsburg sources describe as being smaller than the latest Multivan.

Speaking at the completely new York show earlier This specific year, a Volkswagen spokesman revealed in which VW engineers as well as designers were working on a completely new Camper van concept using a modest electric motor driving the front wheels as well as battery packs stored under the floor.

The spokesman told Autocar in which the design of the original VW van was “so iconic” in which any attempt at a completely new design would likely have to have three “very important” design cues: “First the wide, solid, D-pillar, second the boxy design of the centre section as well as, thirdly, the front end must have a very short overhang. The distance coming from the A-pillar to the front end must be very short.”

The key to achieving the unique front-end design is usually the fact in which an electric motor would likely allow a much lower ‘bonnet line’ than a conventional petrol engine. This specific, in turn, would likely allow the A-pillars to be placed much further forward than in a conventional MPV.

The news of VW’s completely new EV concept was confirmed by Gary Shapiro, president as well as chief executive of the company which organises CES. He said the vehicle would likely be a “groundbreaking electric vehicle in which will further illustrate the synergy between the Internet of Things as well as the automotive industry”.

Shapiro added: “We are pleased Volkswagen will use the CES stage to unveil a concept car displaying its latest developments in safe as well as energy-efficient electric vehicles consistent with VW’s long history of innovation inside the driving experience.

“When we agreed to a Volkswagen keynote earlier This specific year we, along with the globe, did not know much about emissions testing, however after talking with Dr Diess I felt the CES audience would likely be interested in his vision as well as curious about his plans for a completely new type of sustainable car.

“right now, VW has an opportunity at CES to show the globe its designs for the future as well as how the company views electric mobility as well as sustainability.”

Diess’s keynote speech, which will take place on 5 January on the eve of CES’s opening, is usually likely to expand on comments he made last month about how Volkswagen was “repositioning itself for the future”.

“We are becoming more efficient, we are giving our product range as well as our core technologies a completely new focus as well as we are creating room for forward-looking technologies by speeding up the efficiency program.”

Diess also hinted in which “a completely new standard with regard to connectivity as well as driver assistance systems is usually to be defined”, as well as the idea seems likely in which the CES show car will showcase autonomous driving technologies.

Volkswagen’s production car range already includes fully electric vehicles such as the e-Golf as well as e-Up in some markets.